Against the Grain: JBER wife named Mrs. Alaska

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jack Sanders
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  "Mrs. Alaska - United States" is a highly respected title, and it is held by Brandy Wendler, wife of Air Force 1st Lt. John Wendler, a 517th Airlift Squadron pilot, according to the Mrs. Alaska website, www.mrsak.com.

"My wife and I were watching the movie "Miss Congeniality" on TV, and I told her, "You know, I bet you could do that," the lieutenant said.

He said his wife was skeptical at first, but became seriously interested in the idea of the competition after learning each contestant has a platform of interest which is used to raise awareness on a certain subject.

"Two weeks later, she was looking at the Mrs. Alaska website and reading pageant magazines," he said.

"My wife and I chose to raise awareness about celiac disease, an auto-immune disease which causes extreme sensitivity to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye."
Brandy Wendler has learned to deal with celiac disease since being diagnosed more than three years ago.

"My wife has battled with this disease for quite some time and she's dedicated a lot of her time to making sure people don't have to suffer the way she did," Wendler said. "She offers support to newly-diagnosed people and those currently living with the illness.

"She works with several dieticians in Anchorage who refer people to her, and she has gone grocery shopping with people who don't know where to start," he explained.
Wendler also has a support group associated with the Celiac Disease Foundation which meets at Natural Pantry every third Thursday of the month, and she runs a website for Alaskans with celiac disease, www.livingwithoutgrain.org.

After deciding she wanted to run for the title, Wendler began doing her own research about beauty pageants since she had never competed before.

With support from her husband, other members of the Mrs. Alaska Pageant, pageant directors and a close friend, she started learning the ropes.

"The experience was amazing," she said. "I definitely gained a lot more poise and confidence in public speaking. I certainly acquired new hair and make-up tips I
never knew before and developed presentation skills."

The pageant is designed after the national model, which includes four stages of competition: Private Judge's Interview, On-Stage Question in a red cocktail dress, Swim Wear, and Evening Gown, according to the Mrs. Alaska website.

Any married woman 21 years or older who lives, works or owns property in Alaska is eligible to compete for the title of Mrs. Alaska.

The competition is a one-day event including preliminary interviews with the judges in the morning and the stage competition in the evening.

After learning what she needed to know, Wendler was ready to compete, but her she had to compete without her husband there to support her.

"I was in Japan in support of the humanitarian relief effort, Operation Tomodachi, during the event so I wasn't able to be there for her," he said.

Though her husband wasn't there physically, he was there in sprit and represented by his supporting squadron, she said.

"My squadron was very supportive," John Wendler said. "Brandy is part of the 517th Spouses Group, and they were all encouraging and supportive during her journey to the crown. I also have a really good friend, Air Force 1st Lt. Andre Silva, from the squadron who stood in my place to escort her on the stage for the evening gown competition."
"I was nervous, but so was everyone else," Wendler said.

"The ladies I met during the competition were beautiful and had lovely families. There was such camaraderie back stage, and we all prayed together before the interview that morning and the competition that night," she said.

"Each contestant had so much to offer the community and it was a pleasure getting to know them and my honor to share the stage with them. Catherine Roberts, who won first runner-up and the title of Mrs. Anchorage, is also married to an Airman currently serving in Afghanistan."

"I was elated for my wife when I found out that she won," John Wendler said. "When I got the news I felt a great sense of pride in her accomplishment."

Wendler said the entire experience was very positive for her and has allowed her to have many opportunities she never would have had before.

"I would really encourage other woman to participate in the Mrs. United States pageant," she said.